An Act of Love in the ER

The call came over the EMS dispatch that there was a young boy, 16-years-old, hurt while playing at a sporting event. He had collided with another player and was unresponsive with shallow breathing. EMS arrived and quickly transported him to the ER. When he arrived in the ER, it was evident that he also had a significant brain injury. I took the father and mother aside and explained the devastating news.

Something you would never hear God say is “I never saw that coming!”
The abnormal lab test, I never saw that coming, but God knew.
The betrayal of a loved one, I never saw that coming, but God knew.
The sudden loss of a job, I never saw that coming, but God knew.
The sudden death of a loved one, God knew and He is with you.

When in the middle of a life storm we sometimes turn our eyes from Jesus, and we have to be reminded to see through his eyes and not the eyes of the world.

Hebrews 13:5 tells us that God will be at our side through suffering.Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

In Mark 8:22-25, there is a blind man who is touched twice by Jesus.They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

I always wondered why Christ didn’t just heal him with the first touch like he had many times before, but this scripture teaches us that our pain and suffering keeps us from seeing clearly through Christ’s eyes. It sometimes takes a second touch to deepen our faith and although painful as it is, with time we know what God has planned.

The mother and father of this young boy immediately began to cry out to the Lord, and I asked if I could pray with them. I prayed that the doctors and nurses who cared for their son would treat them with compassion and love. I prepared them that they would be asked very shortly about the end of life decisions. They were not ready to hear this news, but I felt it was important to speak the truth with love.

The young boy was transferred to our pediatric hospital, and over the next 24 hours, it was determined that the brain injury was fatal. The family was devastated and praying for a miracle, but in their agony and sorrow, they made a life-changing decision for organ donation. This would be the most difficult decision of their life-giving permission to stop further treatment and allow this tragedy to touch the lives of five other children fighting for their lives. They were touched a second time and saw what God had planned for the death of their son. Their son was going to be in the arms of Jesus on that day and five lives would be impacted by their selfless and faithful decision.

They made the decision to allow organ donation and take their son’s heart, kidneys, lungs, liver and, pancreas. Their faith assured them that they will see their son again in Heaven and his life will touch the five children and their families. His spiritual legacy is so much bigger than he could have imagined. Praise God.

Revelations 21:4-7 says God will make all things right one day in heaven.‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

God grant us the faith and vision to see what you want us to see and hear what you want us to hear.